Ski Ward - Shrewsbury, Massachusetts

Brandon H.

Ski Ward was a BLAST!

I participated in snow tubing with my friend and we enjoyed the entire experience.

Being that it was our first time— we found the instructions to be simple, a fast and efficient system to load our tubes, and a fun activity for all to enjoy.

The atmosphere is family friendly, spacious, caters to all levels of the snow activities, and located in a convenient spot in Shrewsbury.

The next time we go back we will enjoy the skis!

Take your friends, go on a date, or your entire family and enjoy all that Ski Ward has to offer! 🙌🏾

S Y.

Went on a Weekday around noon. Plenty of parking, no wait, and conditions were awesome. Trails freshly groomed.
Talked to several of the employees there and all of them were very nice, friendly, and helpful from the people in the ticket booth, at the bar, to the folks operating the lift lines.
I mainly stayed on the two blue trails next to the chair lift. Going to the other end couldn't get me back to the chair on a snowboard without walking as the tow lift wasn't running yet.
I usually go big mountains, but find this to be a nice cozy lil local place that's good for beginners, warm up for season, out to learn or practice new tricks and techniques, or just to go get your mini dose of skiing/ riding in for the day =).

Devang S.

We started going to Ski Ward years ago when our kids joined a ski race team, and it has become a special place for our family. Over the years, we’ve truly enjoyed our time here as we watched our kids improve their skiing skills, gain confidence on the slopes, and develop a love for the sport.

Ski Ward is perfect for families and beginners, offering a friendly and supportive environment. The staff and instructors are fantastic, always patient and eager to help. It’s a great spot for kids to not only learn skiing but also be part of a community.

One of the highlights of our experience is that our oldest son, after years of skiing here, is now a part-time ski instructor. It’s a testament to the welcoming atmosphere and opportunities Ski Ward provides for young skiers to grow, both on and off the slopes.

In addition to the great skiing, Ski Ward has excellent snowmaking, which ensures reliable conditions even when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate. And for the adults, the bar with awesome beer on tap is a great way to unwind after a day on the slopes!

We also love the convenience of Ski Ward’s location in Central Massachusetts—it’s close to home, which makes it so easy to spend time here. The tubing park adds an extra layer of fun for the whole family, and the snack bar offers great options to refuel.

Ski Ward holds a special place in our hearts, and we’re so grateful for the memories we’ve made here over the years. Whether you’re looking for a place to start skiing, join a race team, or simply enjoy a day outdoors, Ski Ward is a fantastic choice!

Jasmine

This place is fantastic for family and friends, especially if it's their first time visiting! The hills are great for beginners and those looking to practice their skills. Getting our gear—board, helmet, and boots—was a quick and straightforward process.

While the lobby can get a bit crowded at times, there are plenty of seats available outside to relax and enjoy the fresh air.

The workers on the lifts by the snow tubes were wonderfully energetic and fun! I even saw them dancing to "Party in the USA." One gentleman at the snow tube lift was particularly friendly and offered some great advice, suggesting I try skiing next since he noticed I had experience with snowboarding. I truly appreciated his encouragement!

I did take away one star, though, due to a less-than-positive experience with one of the chair lift workers. He was a middle-aged guy with long blond hair and facial hair. I encountered a little difficulty moving my board to the chair, and he became quite upset. In my previous visits to other ski and snowboard resorts, the chairlifts usually pause for people to get on before moving again. I was trying my best to cooperate, but it felt like there was some frustration from him, especially regarding my small cross-body bag. While I understand that safety is important, I could have done without the raised voice, which made things a bit uncomfortable.

I wanted to explain that my small bag contains my personal medical supplies for myself in case of emergencies if I start having a medical shock randomly but unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to do so or show him my medical ID badge. Because of this interaction, I decided to cut my trip short, even though I wanted to keep enjoying the slopes. It's a shame, as the rest of the experience was so enjoyable, and I'd love to come back for another visit!

ankur J.

We've been coming here for several seasons and have noticed a significant decline in the quality of instruction this year. Previously, smaller group sizes allowed for accurate skill assessment and appropriate level placement. This season, however, feels disorganized and haphazard. Despite paying for two children to receive two-hour lessons for a week, they were consistently placed in larger groups and lower levels, which has been incredibly demotivating for them. The current system seems arbitrary and ineffective, and we're very disappointed with the experience.

Stephen D.

Conditions were pretty great after some snowfall, was enjoying our visit with our small children learning to ride for an hour or two before the ski school manager removed us from the spot in the beginners area to make way for a paid lesson, sad! Was told that they reserve the right to move you as they see fit, wish that had been made more clear in advance. Will try other local areas moving forward.

J S.

Ski Ward is a great family oriented place. The kids have lots of fun. The food at the lodge is good. Seats are limited due to the size of the establishment but over all it's a great place.

N. H.

I am updating my review. My child was recently in ski school. For the first lesson, my child was on the snow for 30m before being allowed to make a very very short "run." The instructors blocked the kids from skiing after only 5-10 ft. I was shocked at how inefficient the process was. Many of the kids, not just mine, looked very bored. My child said they did not want to come back to lessons here. I want my child to learn to ski, so I signed them up at another local ski area and the lessons were much better and my child is doing great, going on the carpet, skiing down a hill, learning to turn, and stop, pizza and skate style. My update is that my child's follow up lesson (I'm just going to finish up the current program) was much better than the first. My child was finally able to get on the carpet and actually go down a hill and practice stopping. I am uncertain if I will sign up my child for lessons at Ski Ward again. I will likely continue at the other location. In fairness, though, the 3 year old age group lessons at Ski Ward were okay. They actually moved the little ones more efficiently. The 4 to 7 group lessons, however, need some work. Initially, it was too disorganized and too many kids in groups. But, they seem to have gotten better as of the beginning of the week of January 13th, 2025, so I changed my rating from 2 to 3.